United States

MICE Update: Hawaii

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by Deanna Ting |
April 08, 2014

Oahu // (c) Deanna Ting

On Hawaii, a number of properties are undergoing renovations, updating or adding new group event spaces, and making it easier for meeting groups to convene on the islands. Here’s a quick glance at what’s taking place, island by island:

On the island’s Kona side, Hilton Waikoloa Village plans to begin a $7.5-million renovation of its conference center ballrooms in July 2014, with an expected completion date of September. In total, the property offers some 235,000 square feet of indoor meeting space.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Offers Tiered Wine Service for Events

Group dinners at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai now offer a choice of tiered pricing for wines at $44, $66, or $88 per bottle. Each tier includes a selection of three different white and three different red wines, poured tableside for catered events.

Kauai

The Cliffs of Princeville Complete $5-Million Renovation

Located on the North Shore of Kauai, The Cliffs at Princeville, a condominium suite complex, has completed a $5-million renovation. This included the installation of new hardwood floors, custom Polynesian furniture, new soft goods and décor, a recreation room, waterfall-fed pools, and a children’s playground.

The property recently renovated its Tiki Courtyard, the location of its nightly complimentary live music entertainment, and also added 375 photovoltaic panels to increase the hotel’s sustainability and conservation features for greener meetings and events.

The former Kaanapali Mixed Plate restaurant at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel is now a full-service catering and meeting facility called the Ohana Room with state-of-the-art A/V equipment and space for up to 200 people.

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa Adds New Club Lounge

Also on Kaanapali Beach, the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has added a new Na Hoku Sheraton Club Lounger with panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding mountains.

The historic Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, located in the heart of Waikiki Beach, recently completed a $21-million renovation that included the construction of a new club lounge and enhancements to 522 guest rooms and 36 suites. The new Beach Club lounge, which is right on the beach, has concierge services, complimentary computer access and Wi-Fi, and daily snacks and refreshments.

OHANA Waikiki East Completes $2-Million Refreshment

The OHANA Waikiki East recently completed a $2-million guest room refreshment that included updated bathrooms, new bedding, and the addition of new 42-inch flat-screen TVs.

JW Marriott Ihilani Adds New Meetings Apps

The JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina recently debuted two new apps—the JW Event Concierge app and the CUR8 app. The JW Event Concierge app lets planners use their smartphones to contact service staff immediately for any pressing meeting request. The CUR8 app lets planners and attendees create personalized video clips and collect photos from a special event or meeting, making these clips and photos easily shareable via Facebook, mobile phone, or email.

Airline Updates

Hawaiian Adds New Flights, Upgrades

Hawaiian Airlines has moved up the start date for its new daily year-round service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) by one month, from June 1 to May 2. The airline will add a second daily flight for eight weeks this summer, doubling up on its flights from June 30 to Sept. 8. Hawaiian Airlines will also reinstate its daily San Jose, CA, service beginning May 16.

Hawaiian will also be upgrading the aircraft on its Oakland route to the 294-seat Airbus A330-200, adding a total of 60 more seats each day, beginning June 18. Hawaiian Airlines currently offers daily non-stop service between Oakland and both Honolulu, Oahu, and Kahului. The airline will launch its new seasonal summer service between Oakland and both Lihue, Kauai and Kona, Hawaii Island this June, connecting all four main Hawaiian Islands to Northern California.

Ohana by Hawaiian Launches Inaugural Flight to Lanai

Hawaii’s newest interisland airline, Ohana by Hawaiian, recently launched its inaugural flight to Lanai, the second of two islands returning to the Hawaiian Airlines network. The Lanai service will operate twice daily using a 48-seat ATR-42 aircraft. Ohana by Hawaiian also launched thrice-daily service between Honolulu and Molokai.